Chopra and Kohli in sight of centuries in Nissar Trophy

New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS) After conceding a first-innings lead of 132 runs, Ranji trophy champions Delhi hammered Pakistan’s Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) attack to end the second day at 242 for one with Akash Chopra and Virat Kohli heading for centuries here Tuesday.At the close of play, Chopra was batting on 93 and 19-year-old Kohli 91 as Delhi scored at close to five runs an over in 51 overs.

Riding on a gritty 66 from Khurram Shehzad, SNGPL made 266 in the first innings, resuming at 143 for six in reply to Delhi’s meagre 134.

Delhi openers Virender Sehwag (37) and Chopra got off to a brisk start and the SNGPL bowlers, who looked so lethal in overcast conditions Monday, were blasted by skipper Sehwag this afternoon.

Fast bowler Imran Ali, who had a hat-trick in his six-wicket haul in the first innings, was at the receiving end as Sehwag dented his confidence by spanking the fast bowler for 15 runs in his third over. But Imran had his revenge in the eighth over, getting Sehwag’s wicket.

Chopra and Kohli then were concerned in an unfinished 196-run partnership for the second wicket to leave the SNGPL bowlers dazed.

Both Chopra and Kohli drove the fast bowlers crisply through the covers in their chanceless knocks. They raced to 133 by tea in just 25 overs. They slowed down a bit towards the closing stages as they got closer to their hundreds.

Earlier, SNGPL added 107 runs in the first session. Shehzad and Imran Khalid (15) frustrated the Delhi bowlers and played patiently to add 40 runs for the seventh wicket.

Ashish Nehra and leg-spinner Chetanya Nanda, who tormented the SNGPL batsmen on the first day, hardly found things going their way as Shehzad and Khalid did not have any trouble tackling them.

Ishant Sharma gave Delhi the breakthrough this morning, forcing Khalid to edge an away delivery to Akash Chopra at second slip.

The wicket did not expose the tail as Imran, shone with the bat also making a valuable 36. Along with Sehzad, he put on 77 runs for the eighth-wicket by lunch. But Rajat Bhatia struck with the first ball after the break by removing Imran, caught at midwicket by substitute Narinder Singh.

It was then a matter of time before their innings folded. Leg-spinner Chetanya Nanda picked up Sehzad caught by Chopra to return with figures of three for 24. Nehra also picked up three while Pradeep Sangwan scalped two.